Part One: Getting Started on Twitter

Noone likes to look dumb. But there's new applications popping up all the time, so it's not surprising that Twitter might have snuck up on you and now you want to know how to get involved and make the most of it.

Before you sign up for an account, check out this cool CommonCraft video which gives you an overview of the general concept of Twitter. *If you already have a Twitter account and followers and still don't 'get it', skip straight through to Part Four - Tweetdeck Makes Twitter Make Sense)

Set up your Twitter accountGo to www.twitter.com & click on the big green button that says "Join the Conversation".You'll need to fill in your name and email address and choose a Username* for yourself. Click "Create my Account" and you're in!

*It doesn't matter whether your account is for professional / business marketing purposes or your own social chitchat, you'll want to choose something that identifies who you are. People like to know who they are talking to. You may have to try a few different Usernames if the one you want is already taken.

Now you're in, here's the tricky part - understanding what on earth is going on.

The box at the top of the screen under "What are you doing?" is where you type status updates (140 character limit). Also on this page you can see how many people you 'follow' and how many follow you, how many updates you have written, any messages people have sent you etc..

Now before you start making friends, you'll need to customize your page. Not just because that aqua colour is nasty, but because this is the all-important page people will see when they check you out.Other Posts in this Series: